046 ( 769) Valmiki

Valmiki

To Valmiki, we Indians owe a deeper debt of gratitude than
to any other poet. He gave us the Ramayana, one of the most
fascinating stories of all time. No words can describe the hold the
Ramayana has had on the people of India from ancient times to
the present day. It has affected the life and thou ght of our people
and played an important role in shaping Indian culture. Valmiki
was the Adikavi, the first poet, and his Ramayana the Adikavya,
the first poem. While remembering the man’s work, we must not
forget the man. How he wrote the Kamayana, and under what
conditions, is itself an absorbing story. This version is based on
Valmiki Ramayana and Vallathol’s Malayalam translation.

SAYINGS OF VALMIKI

The mind is the cause for the direction of all senses leading
to good and evil acts.

Honour the wives of others and protect them, O Ravana, as
you will your own. Set an example by loving your own wife.

Kindness is a supreme virtue.
Great men when they undertake todoa great deed, are never
upset.
They are the blessed,who by their wisdom, can control their
anger, even as water subdues a conflagration.
Whoever does anything with enthusiasm rarely fails to
jachieve his $bject.
A PCL-
LCN
yet

a7 Vv ,
JONAVSK A VJERSKA Inne good reading.
|

‘AJEDNICA SPLIT Over 78 million copies sold so far,

HRAMSKA BBLIOTEKA

Retold by :; Mali Artwork : Prabhakar Khanolkar

Editor : Anant Pai
©1995 India Book House Pvt. Ltd.
Published by H. G. Mirchandani, for India Book House Pvt, Lid., Fleet Bidg, Mathuradas Vissanji Road, Marol Naka,
Andheri (East), Bombay 400 059, and printed by him at Shashi Offset, 124, Ansa ‘H’ Ind. Estate,
Saki Vihar Road, Bombay- 400 072.

t | at

Lot

VALMIK) INAS THE ADIKAV! GR FILET POET AND
id (WS FIRST POEM OR ADIKAVYA WAS THE PAMAYANT.

POAMING FARE JUNGLE AE SOs
DOWN AHABMLESS SIRES.

STCANGELY, VALMIE! WAS A HUNTER AND

AAOHE Ae Ono,

HE ALSO WAYLAID AND ROBBED LONE TRAVELLERS IN THE JUNGLE.

HANP OVER THAT
BUNDLE OF ELSE
iWIELL KILL YOU,

HAVE MERCY.
SPARE ME.

HERE I
TODAY’"S

p RE PATIENT.
fF A GROUP OF RICH
MERCHANTS WILL BE ‘
PASSING THROUGH THE ff
JUNGLE TOMORROW.

REATAINGE TE: SAR TAS EA ES A BEVEL CREAT: ON

" i ) f A |
f “1 : fi f s

y Vans" )/ALL THE WEALTH Wf
f STOP,IF You Va =e. THAT YOU

LOVE YOUR [eas HAVE ON YOU. Ja

WE ARE MEN OF GOD
AND OWN NO WEALTH.

BUT WHY DO YOU

, ‘WANT TO ROB Us 2

BUT FIRST
WILL YOU ANSWER
MY GUES TION ¢

OUT WITH
IT! AND BE
QUICK,

| | HAVE TO MAINTAIN MAY WIFE

AND? CHILPEEN. ROBBERY IS MY
MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD,

YOUR FAMILY LIVES ON THE FRUITS

| OF YOUR SIN. WILL THEY PARTAKE (= { OF COURSE,
2 : ame | A OTHEY WILL.

60 ANP ASK THEM,
COME BACK WITH
THEIR ANSWEE.

ALL FIGHT.
BUT IF YOu RUN
AWAY, | WILL MAKE
YOU PAY FOR IT,

THE ROBEER WALKER TOWARDS AVS INGIDE THE AUT...

AUT WAILE THE AIShYS STC = = =
IWATIOMIVG AYA. - DEAR WIFE, YOU BENEFIT FROM MY

cone SINFUL LIFE. DON'T YOu ?
OF COURSE,
| PO. WHAT OF
THAT ¢

Wi aes | oe el b ara. :

YOU WILL ee eet GY You ARE THE SINNER.
SHARE MY sINS;})) —s—ié‘(} SAS lO WHY SHOULD |
WON'T YOU? J ee '

¥ WONT YOU AT
LEAST SHARE MY
SIN, MAY wt
PAPLING? 4 99]

NO FATHER, \gumm
| WILL NOT.

IWE BOBBER COULD NOT BELIE ve
MS EARS. HE STOQD STUNNED AND
| HAZ Eo —

BEVOWGS UNDE THE WEIGNT OF ¢ CREOW,
ME WENT OUT WNT FALTERING STEPS.

AS HE CAME NEAR THEM AE &446S7
INTO TEARS,

WHAT DIP
THEY TELL

= ’ t 4 } | } | i f A 7 a
i A le ye | }
hi 4 1 Ay
Pm i COANE

MY SOUL IS LOST,
FEPEEM IT, ©
COMPASSIONATE

THE AISAIS TOOK ATS OM FAT.

eSslT DOWN AND
RECITE*MA-RA.
PUT YOUF HEART

\ DON'T STOP FOR
} A MOMENT TILL
WE RETURN.
GOP BLESS YOU...

THEREUPON THE ROBBER SQUAT TED OM THE GROUND, CLOSED HIE EYES, AND
FOSSETT TING AVIIGE! & BeOS, FECT IVG *A14-e4? belie Oa ey bs
“BAMA? INVERTED , 2 —_

MONTHS PASSED INTO YEARS, AND STILL HE SAT UNVAAOVING. AROUND AAA AM ANTHILL
MAS ee deta SE ee sil apc ae AV TATTLE. See hss teh acini deat

AT LAST ONE DAY THE SEVEN RIGHIG RETURNED TO THE PLACE.

cier fr
ti. | 5 1 |

4
ig

RAMA THE MIRACLE
‘1S DUE, AND TO
YOU, O GREAT
RISHIS.

ey EO

AMONG THE
SREATEST RISGHIS YOU
AFE ONE, © VALMIKI. AND

SEEATER GLORY
AWAITS “OU,

| FWEREAF TER VALMIK BECAUSE OF Fi/S SPIRITUAL. POWER AMD! KNOWLEDGE
EARNED THE RESPECT OF AOLY MEN EVESCYAIVERE

xs ae EWS MAHA RIGHI NARADA SY way con eLess |
Se a ae a YOU, O HOLIEST AMONG
| ‘. HOLY MEN. atl

| THEY ENGAGED THEMSELVES i CON-
VES SAT ey,

RAMA \WHO
[Ss THE

PRESENT KING

f\. OF AYODHYA,

WHO AMONG MEN,
| 'S THE MOST PERFECT
ONE, O NARADA?

| HAVE TOLD oF
YOU ALL | KNOW. S

WHAT A FASCINATING Sa

STORY. | AM GRATEFUL
TO YOu, &#
© NARADA, ffl

LET ME TELL You
THE WONDERFUL
STORY OF FAMA.

PLEASE BEGIN,
1AM IMPATIENT TO
HEAR IT.

EVER ALTER, THE STARY KEMAIWED
ERESH i UALMIASTS MING, JOST
AS AE HAG MEARL £7,

ALL THE TIME / CAA
THINE OF NOTING
ELSE. STRAVEE

WVPEED,

PE ri Feit ee | UNE a NS Se pe
| AA &ONAN GS To

THE TAMASA FIVER FOR

A BATH, Go“Ace |

WHITH AAE.

LEAD
MASTEF,
| FOLLOW.

LOOK, NATURE :
HAS PECKED HERSELF BN
IN ALL HER FINERY,

SEE HOW BLISSFUL
THOSE TWO BIRPS ARE, AND
HOW INNOCENT ANP PURE
IS THEIR LOVE FOR

» EACH OTHER.

r wr
earl §

ee ee

i

|

OH GOP,
VV HAT
CRUELTY!

iV AYS GRIEF VAL AMIE Ctse
AUNTEL

SEL TAME

YOU HAVE SLAIN
A HARAALESS
CREATUFE.
MAY YOU
NEVER
PROGPEF,
O CRUEL
MAN.

VALMUKI'S UTTERANCE WHICH WAS (NV
| SANEKEAIT, CAME OUT IN VERSE WITH
| MELOY ANE BAY FPA,

| THUS CAME INTO BEING THE FIRST
| S7AVZA EVES, AS IT ALOSE FAH MS
| "SHOKA"OR GRIEF HE CALLED IT “SHLOKA”™

THE WORDS!
THE FORM!
SOMETHING
QUITE NEW!
AMAZING
INDEED!

| THAT DAY HE HAD A VISITOR — BRAHMA
THE CREATOR MAISELF.

BLESSED
INDEED ARE |
YOU, ; : WHAT MAY

© VALAMIEI, am | YOUR PURPOSE

HAS HAPPENED
AS DECREED By |

ME.

YOU HAVE HEARD PAMA?S
STORY FROM NARADA, WRITE
WHAT YOU KNOW AND ALSO WHAT

IS UNKNOWN TO You.

BUT LORE,
HOW CAN |
WRITE ABOUT
THINGS
| DON’T
KNOW?

WHATEVER KNOWLEDGE YOu PO NOT POSSESS 2 i
SHALL BE PEVEALED TO YOU. AS LONG AS MOUNTAINS Jal”
AND SEAS EXISTON EARTH, SO LONG WILL é
YOUR PAMAYANA

7
LAMATRS AH, HOW

h CORONATION. . CLEAR.IS MY
Re < VISION.

| AFTELUAEOSS HE WEOTE THE GLORIOUS
EPIC) PAMAYANA, iV VERSE.

bs i We seiiitass <

MASTER HAS
FINISHED THE
CAAA ASAIA, .

KAS HELD THE LISTENERS
INP. :

=. rae },
eee ae ha
r
j |

YEARS LATER, SQUE DISCIPLES WENT DEEP WVTO THE WOOPS.THGCE THEY FONE A
OMA CHING _— ee GROUND AVE CAV AS 1 NE Sie WOeGLE BELA,

WHO IS SHE
ANG WHY [6

BEAUTIFUL
LADY. IS
SHE A

4. GOPDESS?

\ Tan

VALMUIKI'S SPILITUAL INGIGAT
TOLO MAA WHO THE LADY WAS.

O MASTER,THERE I¢ ALACY IN THE —
WOODS. SHE IS WEEPING WITHOUT A
STOP. SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!LIKE GODDESS

OW GOD. SHE 1S
S(TA, LORD RAMA’S *
WHEE.

<<

| THE RIGA! HURRIED TO THE PEACE WHERE SITA LAT.

= Ny
. My OSITA,CHASTEST AMONG
WOMEN, DO NOT GRIEVE.
| AM HERE TO
: HELP YOU.

SITA WHO HAD BEEN ABANDONED \ * ZS~ tye ae sf O JEWELOF
IN THE FOREST B¢ RAMA FOUND |\% Si AR | WOMANHOOD,

| A BENEFACT OL (iN VALMIES, - nw yl COME WITH |
= ; ny = 2 ‘to =,

nrg = Was Lala ge &

a | HERMITAGE. |

Ne fe, CONSIDER

: , iT YOUR
OWN

PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL
CAFE OF SITA. SHE (5 GOING
TO BE A MOTHER.

THE BOYS, LUV ANP KUSH MEE

BROUGHT UF BY VALAMIL AND
EBUCATED BY HIM.

J

AMONG THE MANY THINGS HE TAUGHT THEM WAS TO RECITE THE RAMAYANA
7O THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF THE VEENA.

—

+

J IF RAMA ASKS YOU
ABOUT YOUR
FATHER, MERELY
SAY “Ou APE
VALMIKI?S

| DISCIPLES,

BAMA AND THE ASSEMBLY WERE ENTPANCED BY THE SINGING OF THE EOYs,

WONDERFUL
POETRY AND

a : mai ar]
mau” mil Ni i)
qu! iii r sil
un i yn
| | il le = 6

ip | BA r
mi ill” Zag

CHILPREN, WHO
COMPOSED THIS GREAT

Rai \\\\\ \i-7 WE ARE cIScIPLes
our ff i (ae f \ OF mt
MASTER ANWR |

VALMIFI!

RAMA GAVE AN ORDER TO MIS
MINISTER.

| AM MIGHTILY PLEASED WITH THE
| PERFORMANCE OF THESE BOYS.

GIVE THEM EIGHTEEN pa
THOUSAND GOLD | #5

| ACCEPT MONEY WE
. APE S0/NG&,

wn

2s i
wi

LATER THE TRUTH COAWVES
OV KAMA.

THE B0C7S 4£E AS
ANY SONS! SITA /S THEE
MOTAES. f ew S&VE

€ SURPRISING al

eine Oo
Q

WHAT?
A MESSAGE

FEOM RAMA?

SITA, FAMA
is PREPARED
Te TAKE
YOu BACK
Fe

IF YOU WILL
SWEAR BEFORE THE
ASSEMBLY THAT
YOU ARE
BLAMELESS.

YOUR OATH IS
MERELY TO AFFIEM
YOUR PURITY IN
PUBLIC, WILL

YOU GO WITH

BUT | AAA

| WILL PO te
ANY THING AA’
HUSBAND COMMANDS.
COME, LET
us GO.

BLAMELESS.

THE INMATES OF THE HERMITAGE BADE SITA A TEARFUL FAREWELL.

ALL EVES NOW TURNEP TOWARPS
VALMIKI ANP SITA.

1 AAA
HONOUREP BY
YOUR VISIT,

et cue cp = a di = eo ae) ae
a8. ene oP Us

© RAMA, | TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY ’
ON BEHALF OF SITA. 100 SOLEMNLY SWEAR
THAT SHE IS PURE IN :
MIND AND BODY.

Se Vow EARTH, MY MOTHER,
AS WITNESS | SWEAR THAT |
HAVE ALVVAYS BEEN FAITHFUL.

[ WILL BE
PELIGHTED IF
SITA HEeSELF

SVvVvEears,

AND THEN A MIRACLE TOOK PLACE. THE ERRTH OPENED BY ITEELE AND UP CAME

BHOONM DEW EIT TING ON HER THRONE,

SITA, MY DEAR PAUGHTER,
1 HAVE COME TO TAKE

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= oes esol

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—_ et
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| SUCH WAS VALMIEL
| AUTHOR OF THE RAMAYANA. \IAsS
THROUGH THE CENTUGES ‘BIN
MIS WORK HAS LIVED,
THE SAME AS WHEN HE
WROTE (7 FOR ATS OU
PLEASURE ANO THAT OF
GENERATIONS FO CAME.
ANG IT WILL LAKE, AS
BEAHMA SAID, TILL THE
MOUNTAING ANO THE
SEAS EX/ST ON
THE EARTH.

Prmeyi
Tot
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rae
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